Paris Saint-Germain has struck gold with the signing of Manuel Ugarte, who has been one of the best players. The capital club reportedly spent €60 million to land the 22-year-old from Sporting Lisbon this summer.
While PSG supporters are falling head over heels for the midfielder, Ugarte’s form isn’t going unnoticed. Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde spoke highly of his compatriot, as the two will likely be starting for Uruguay in the match against Chile on Friday at the Estadio Centenario.
“Manuel Ugarte is one of the best midfielders in the world today,” Valverde said. “He is very mature for his age. He already showed it at Fénix when he was very young. Today, he plays for one of the best teams in the world. We’re friends. That makes it easier for us to get along very well.”
Federico Valverde: “Manuel Ugarte is one of the best midfielders in the world today. He is very mature for his age, he already showed it at Fénix when he was very young, today he plays for one of the best teams in the world. We’re friends, that makes it easier for us to get along… pic.twitter.com/EqQqfrJUih
— PSG Report (@PSG_Report) September 7, 2023
Furthermore, Ugarte spoke about his adaptation to PSG, a relatively seamless transition to Ligue 1. Ugarte has filled a need that the Parisians have lacked since the retirement of Thiago Motta in 2018.
“It was a very quick adaptation at PSG and that surprised me because PSG is a very big club,” Ugarte said. “Obviously, I know the responsibility I have, a good performance at the club also gives you more chances in the national team.”
Manuel Ugarte: “It was a very quick adaptation at PSG and that surprised me because PSG is a very big club. Obviously I know the responsibility I have, a good performance at the club also gives you more chances in the national team.” 🇺🇾🗣️ pic.twitter.com/oF0BeCZJDd
— PSG Report (@PSG_Report) September 7, 2023
Valverde and Ugarte are in their early to mid-20s, so if they continue to play at a high level, La Celeste will have the backbone of its squad to help them qualify in this cycle for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
